By Gabrielle. Photo is me holding my sister Jordan of Oh Happy Day — such a festive shot!

Hello, Friends! How are you? Oh my goodness I am surely excited to greet the weekend. I pretty much love that Valentine’s Day is on Saturday — it means we can sleep in and enjoy a lazy brunch. And then no school on Monday! I swear, three day weekends feel like gold at the end of a rainbow.

What are your plans this weekend? I know in some parts of the country they call the next 7 days “ski week”. Any of you headed to the slopes? Or maybe a romantic date for Saturday night? We haven’t made plans for Valentine’s night at all. Our older three are all babysitting for other families, so I’m guessing we’ll stay in. Takeout + a movie sounds about right. Any favorite romantic comedies you’d recommend? I’d love to watch something we haven’t seen before! But maybe a re-watch of You’ve Got Mail or While You Were Sleeping is in order. (I would add Notting Hill as an option, but we just watched it on Sunday. Also, Sunday was the first time I realized Lord Grantham is in Notting Hill! He’s so young!!!)

I’ve got appointments for much of today and need to head out, but before I do, there are few things I’ve wanted to share with you:

– Oh man. I can’t stop thinking about this article on public shaming. I feel like this could happen to anyone. It’s so easy to assume the worst of people.

Pamela Balabuszko-Reay

My husband is a movie cryer. A commercial cryer. A music (from the 80’s) video cryer. We watched this one together. First I started knuckling away a tear and by the end I was heaving crying. It was so good.

Thanks for sharing that article on public shaming, it really is a good read! It made me think of something I wrote for my internship in college, a headline on an article that my editor changed without ever explaining to me why. I always thought it strange since all I had done was take a direct quote from a coach (my internship was at a sports publication) and put a little pun spin on it. It didn’t occur to me until years later that my pun might have sounded insensitive. This was about 15 years ago so the internet wasn’t what it is now but I shudder to think what could have happened if that headline had been published and spread around and misinterpreted!

Jill

We loved Begin Again with Keira Knightly, it was in the theatres last summer. And we love Chef, which I think is on Netflix right now. They are not really romantic but my husband and I loved watching them together and then talking about them, which was very romatic. And my husband cried during Begin Again because the Keira Nightly character reminded him so much of our oldest daughter , and that was so wonderful. Happy weekend!

Ali

Ah Tumblr, I tried to get into it, but I couldn’t. I prefer it to Facebook, though. It’s one of those things that I feel I need to understand so as not to be left out by what the kids are doing these days :)

I love that photo of you and Jordan! I’m sure you hear it all the time but your girls really are just the spitting image of you as a child – and even now :)

We have a four day weekend in Berkeley. The kids get today off as Lincoln’s Birthday too. I always find it a little strange that the school districts in the Bay Area don’t share the same days off. We usually have Spring Break at a different time to you guys and SF too.

Enjoy your (not quite as long as ours!) long weekend and happy Valentine’s Day!

Barchbo

I read the public shaming article yesterday and it really underscored everything I fear most for our culture – actions without personal consequences. It reminds me of that terrible but oddly prescient film The Running Man in which people few humiliation and bloodletting as entertainment reminiscent of ancient Rome.
Then I remember that most people are really wonderful and that earns them no place in the spotlight. And then I can breathe again.

Carly

In Norway we always take our shoes off at the door. I know some families keep a basket in the hall with warm sock slippers for guests. I’m usually barefoot at home. :-) I’m so glad you liked ‘about time’- it is one of my very favorite films. I’m surprised it didn’t get more attention too! We are heading from the west coast of Norway to our closest temple which is in Stockholm – a 14 hour drive. So no skiing for us next week, but 4 full days of temple work. Can’t wait! Have a great weekend!

Colleen

Design Mom,
I have been following your blog for a number of years. I was the one who told you about the geraniums in the window boxes while you were living in France.

I am writing because I cannot access your instrgram ink361. I love following your acitivites and watching your family from into young adults. I used to be able to access without joining, but the ink361 changed and I am now blocked. Can you help me? I can certainly join intragram if I need to.
Please let me know what to do.
I appreicate how you share with your readers.
Thank you,
Colleen Dumas

Birgit

Nia

So…what social media sites do you allow your kids to join? I have a 10 year-old and a 12 year-old and even though the sites have age requirements (like 13), their friends are all on them. I am trying to hold out, but I am interested in how you use Instagram, Facebook, etc. in your home. Thanks!